Congressman Warns Citizen That Armed Resistance is Futile: ‘The Government Has Nukes’

Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) informed a citizen concerned about his stance on gun rights that any war between American, gun-toting rebels and the U.S. government would be a “short one” — thanks to nuclear weapons.

On Friday a Twitter user resurfaced a USA Today op-ed in which Swalwell called for the ban and confiscation of assault weapons. Joe Biggs, a veteran and Infowars personality, was outraged.

“So basically @RepSwalwell wants a war,” Biggs wrote on Twitter. “Because that’s what you would get. You’re outta your fucking mind if you think I’ll give up my rights and give the gov all the power.”

Swalwell replied by noting “it would be a short war” between the U.S. government and Biggs’ petty rebellion, because the former “has nukes.”

And it would be a short war my friend. The government has nukes. Too many of them. But they’re legit. I’m sure if we talked we could find common ground to protect our families and communities.

— Rep. Eric Swalwell (@RepSwalwell) November 16, 2018

Biggs protested, and Swalwell responded by calling him “dramatic”:

Don’t be so dramatic. You claiming you need a gun to protect yourself against the government is ludicrous. But you seem like a reasonable person. If an assault weapons ban happens, I’m sure you’ll follow law.

— Rep. Eric Swalwell (@RepSwalwell) November 16, 2018

The young congressman added:

Don’t be so dramatic. No one is nuking anyone or threatening that. I’m telling you this is not the 18th Century. The argument that you would go to war with your government if an assault weapons ban was in place is ludicrous and inflames the gun debate. Which is what you want. https://t.co/oX0rY7Nbs1

— Rep. Eric Swalwell (@RepSwalwell) November 16, 2018

[H/t Jon Levine]

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